Generation of gas at high pressures



Feb. 11, 1969 c. T. LLOYD GENERATION 0F GAS AT HIGH PRESSURES Sheet Filed Oct. 21, 1966 |NVENTOR= CLAYTON T. LLOYD Feb. 11, 1969 c. T. LLOYD GENERATION OF GAS AT HIGH PRESSURES Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1966 CLAYTON T. LLOYD l0, 3| or 44 United States Patent 3,426,545 GENERATION OF GAS AT HIGH PRESSURES Clayton T. Lloyd, 4917 55th Place, Hyattsville, Md. 20781 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 412,582, Nov. 12, 1964. This application Oct. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 588,421 U.S. Cl. 6245 9 Claims Int. 'Cl. F17c 1/02, 7/00; F02k 7/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A receptacle containing gas at cryogenic temperature is disposed in a sealed jacket containing a liquid. The liquid is heated so that the gas in the receptacle is transformed into vapor at extreme pressure. The liquid in the jacket is subjected to extreme static pressure by mechanical means, so as to counteract the pressure of the generated gas and prevent the receptacle from bursting.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 412,582, filed Nov. 12, 1964, now abandoned.

The aforementioned earlier application relates to compressing of gases to extremely high pressures by transformation from a liquid state at a cryogenic temperature into a vapor state.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and an improved method whereby such transformation may be effected so as to generate vaporized gas at a high pressure and high energy level without a significant change in density,'so that the gas so generated may be effectively employed for various uses, including that of providing a high energy thrust in jet engines, rockets, spacecraft, and the like.

Also, the aforementioned earlier application relates to gas compression and, reversely, to pumping of a perfect vaccum, and the present application elaborates upon this concept.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one embodiment of an apparatus for generation of high pressure, high energy gas in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified embodiment;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the apparatus for selective gas compression and vacuum production; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating a second stage of pressure generation such as may be used in conjunction with the apparatus of any of FIGS. 1-3.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral designates a suitable receptacle or flask equipped with a valve 11 and containing gas 12 at a cryogenic temperature, the gas being either in the liquid or solid state. As shown, the receptacle 10 is removably positioned in a jacket 13 of sturdy construction, provided with a removable cover 14 and containing a filling of liquid 15, such as water, for example, which surrounds the receptacle. The jacket 13 is also provided with an electric heating element 16 for heating the water as well as the solid or liquid gas in the receptacle 10, so that the gas, while being confined in the recep- 3,426,545 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 tacle, is transformed by heat from its solid or liquid state into the vapor state at extreme pressure and high energy level, without a significant change in density.

Means are provided for counteracting the high pressure of the generated gas inside the receptacle 10 in order to prevent the receptacle from bursting. These means comprise a plunger or piston 17 of a relatively large diameter which is slidably positioned in a cylinder-like extension 18 of the jacket 13, the portion of the extension 18 behind the plunger 17 being supplied with hydraulic pressure from a pump 19 having a relatively small piston 20, so that when the pump 19 is actuated to exert hydraulic pressure on the plunger 17, that pressure will be multiplied and, under the virtual non-compressibility of water, the plunger will subject the water filling 15 in the jacket 13 to a static pressure sufficiently high to prevent the receptacle 10 from bursting under internal pressure of the generated gas, which may be on the order of 12,000 p.s.i. at zero temperature.

The pump 19 receives its hydraulic supply from a suitable reservoir 21 through a check valve 22, and communication between the pump and the jacket extension 18 is made by a conduit 23 equipped with a valve 24. The latter is a combined 3-way valve and check valve which permits flow from the pump 19 to the jacket extension 18 only, so that hydraulic pressure against the plunger 17 may be maintained. However, the valve 24 also has a return 25 to the reservoir 21, when hydraulic pressure against the plunger 17 is to be relieved, as for example, when the jacket cover 14 is to be opened for removal of the receptacle 10 from the jacket. The pump 19 may be actuated in any suitable manner, as diagrammatically shown at 26.

Upon transformation of the solid or liquid gas in the receptacle 10 into a high pressure, high energy vapor, the same may be utilized in any suitable manner, including that of providing thrust for jet engines, rockets, spacecraft, and the like. Moreover, a second stage of pressure generation may be obtained upon removal of the receptacle 10 from the jacket 13, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Here, a gas outlet jet 27 is connected to the receptacle valve 11, the jet having a restricted throat 27a through which the gas flows at high pressure and high pressure, past a pair of opposing electrodes 28 energized at a high potential by a step-up transformer 29, so that an electric arc is produced across the electrodes to provide high-temperature heating of the passing gas and resultant additional increase in the pressure and energy level thereof.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that the gas generation process herein concerns a given quantity of gas at a time, governed by the contents of the receptacle 10. However, a modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 provides for a continuous process of gas transformation, wherein the solid or liquid gas supply 30 and the vaporized gas receiver 31 are disposed exteriorly of the generating vessel or jacket 13a.

The solid or liquid gas supply 30 may be in a container 32 open to the atmosphere as at 33 to facilitate placing or pouring of the solid or liquid gas thereinto, the container preferably being insulated as at 34 to retard evaporation. The container has an outlet conduit 35 provided with a flow control valve 36 and with a check valve 37, the conduit 35 leading to a hydraulic pump 38 and then to a pressure accumulator 39 contained inside a water jacket 13a. The gas supply 30 in a liquid state is pressured by the pump 38 into the accumulator 39, which has connected thereto one or more capillary tubes or vaporizing coils 40 leading to a header 41. The coils 40, like the accumulator 39 and the pump 38, are contained in the water jacket 13a, which is heated by the electric heating element 16 to transform the liquid gas into vapor as it flows through the coils 40 into the vapor receiving header 41. In order to prevent the accumulator 39 and the coils 40 from bursting under pressure of the generated gas, the water in the jacket 13a is subjected to static pressure by the plunger 17, as already described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1. The accumulator 39 serves to receive liquid gas under pressure from the pump 38 and acts as a manifold from which the gas flows into the vaporizing coils 40, the accumulator thus function in the manner of a shock absorber or surge resistor to assure a smooth and continuous flow of the gas in its transition from the liquid to the vapor stage.

The vaporized gas is taken from the header 41 through a conduit 42 to a pressurized gas receiver or flask as shown at 31, the conduit 42 being equipped with a check valve 43 to permit flow of gas only in the direction of the receiver. When the receiver 31 is filled, a second stage of pressure generation may be effected as already described in connection with FIG. 4.

Reference is now drawn to FIG. 3, showing an arrangement whereby a container 44 may be selectively charged with compressed gas or subjected to a perfect vacuum.

For this purpose, a receptacle 45 is provided, the same preferably having a removable cover 46 and being surrounded by a cooling water jacket 47. A conduit 48 communicates with the interior of the receptacle 45 through the cover 46 and carries a three-way valve 49, communicating selectively with the container 44 as at 50, and with the atmosphere as at 51. The bottom of the receptacle 45 is provided with a conduit 52 equipped with a check valve 53, the conduit 52 being in communication with a hydraulic pump 54 and with a water reservoir 55.

When the container 44 is to be charged with compressed gas, such as air, for example, the valve 49 is opened so as to admit air from the atmosphere at 51 into the receptacle 45 while the latter is empty of water. The valve 49 may then be diverted to communicate with the container 44 and the pump 54 may be energized so as to pump water from the reservoir 55 into the receptacle 45, thus compressing the air in the latter and charging the container 44 with compressed air accordingly. Converse- 1y, when the container 44 is to be evacuated, the pump 54 may be driven reversely so as to withdraw water from the receptacle 45 until a perfect vacuum in the receptacle and in the container 44 is obtained. In order to separate the air and water contents of the receptacle 45, a flexible partition or liner 56 may be provided therein, as will be clearly apparent.

When the container 44 has been charged with compressed air, it may be detached from the conduit 50 and connected to the jet 27 for effecting a second stage generation of gas pressure, as already explained in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in i the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an apparatus for extreme pressure vaporization of gas at cryogenic temperatures, the combination of a rigid receptacle for gas to be vaporized, a sealed jacket enclosing the same and containing a filling of liquid surrounding said receptacle, means for heating said liqulid and the receptacle whereby to transform the gas in the receptacle into vapor at extreme pressure without significant change in density, and mechanical means for applying extreme static pressure to the liquid in said jacket whereby to counteract the generated gas pressure and prevent bursting of said receptacle.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said jacket is provided with a removable cover, said receptacle comprising a rigid valve-equipped tank removable positioned in said jacket.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 together with a gas outlet jet connected to the valve of said tank upon removal of the tank from said jacket, and means for high-temperature heating of gas passing through said jet.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle comprises a pressure accumulator positioned in said jacket, an external source of gas at cryogenic temperature, hydraulic pump means for delivering gas from said source under pressure to said accumulator, vaporizing coil means positioned in said jacket in communication with said accumulator, said coil means having a header for vaporized gas, an external receiver equipped With valve means, and means for delivering vaporized gas from said header to said receiver through said valve means.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 together with a gas outlet jet connected to the valve means of said receiver, and means for high-temperature heating of gas passing through said jet.

6. In an apparatus for extreme pressure vaporization of gas at cryogenic temperatures, the combination of a rigid receptacle containing gas to be vaporized, a sealed jacket enclosing the same and containing a filling of liquid surrounding said receptacle, means for heating said liquid and the receptacle whereby to transform the gas in the receptacle into vapor at extreme pressure without significant change in density, said jacket including a movable piston-like wall member in contact with the fillling of liquid in the jacket, and mechanical means for applying inward force to said wall member whereby to place the liqiud in the jacket under extreme static pressure and counteract the generated gas pressure to prevent said receptacle from bursting.

7. The apparatus as defiend in claim 6 wherein said heating means comprises a heater immersed in the liquid in said jacket.

8. In a method for extreme pressure vaporization of gas at cryogenic temperatures, the steps of placing a rigid receptacle containing liquid gas in a sealed jacket containing a filling of liquid so that the receptacle is surrounded by the liquid in said jacket, heating the liquid in the jacket to thereby also heat the receptacle and the liquid gas in the latter so that the liquid gas is vaporized with a generation of extreme pressure without significant change in density, and utilizing mechanical means to apply extreme static pressure to the liquid in said jacket so that the pressurized liquid in the jacket surrounding said receptacle counteracts the generated gas pressure in the receptacle and prevents the receptacle from bursting.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 together with the steps of discharging the generated vaporized gas from said receptacle through an outlet jet having .a restricted throat, and applying high-temperature heat to the gas passing through said jet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,251 7/1934 Heylandt 62-45 Re. 25,065 10/1961 Daley et al 62--53 2,028,119 1/1936 Boshkofi 6253 2,067,720 1/ 1937 McCombs et al 62-53 X 2,671,590 3/1954 McBean et a1. 62-50 X 2,772,543 12/1956 Berry 62115 2,971,345 2/1961 Ball 6253 3,099,260 7/1963 Birtwell 103-44 LLOYD L. KING, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 6253; 60203 

